Michael Jackson's little bedmates By BEN PERRY in London 05feb03
POP star Michael Jackson has disclosed in a television documentary that he saw nothing wrong with sharing his bed with children, despite being accused in the past of child sex abuse.
In an interview screened yesterday on the ITV network – and last night on the Seven Network in Australia – he added that his one-year-old child was conceived by a surrogate mother he has yet to meet. He also denied having vast amounts of cosmetic surgery, saying he had only had two operations on his nose.
The interview was part of the documentary Living With Michael Jackson.
Jackson, 44, who in 1993 was accused of sexual abuse, said he has formed a close friendship with a 12-year-old boy named Gavin, who regularly spends the night at Jackson's Neverland mansion.
Gavin believes his relationship with the star has helped cure him of cancer, according to the documentary, which was filmed over an eight-month period.
Jackson said he slept on the floor when Gavin was in his bedroom, but admitted he has shared a bed with many children.
The star said it was always the children's choice to sleep in his bedroom and that he was happy to oblige.
"It's not sexual. We're going to sleep. I tuck them in and I put a little music on and when it's story time I read a book.
"We go to sleep with the fire on and I give them hot milk and cookies. It's very charming and very sweet. It's what the whole world should do," Jackson said.
"Why can't you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone. It's a beautiful thing. It's very right, it's very loving. Because what's wrong with sharing a love?"
In 1993, the singer was accused of sexual abuse of a 13-year-old boy, but a multi-million-dollar settlement was reached and the investigation was dropped.
The television show also revealed that the star's baby boy, of whom the world knew nothing until Jackson dangled him from a German hotel balcony last November, was conceived by a surrogate mother.
"I used a surrogate mother and my own sperm cells. She doesn't know me and I don't know her," he said.
"It didn't matter to me as long as she was healthy. I didn't care what race she was as long as she was healthy and her vision was good. And her intellect – I wanted to know how intelligent she is."
The child's official name is Prince Michael II, but Jackson referred to him in the program as "Blanket".
"It's an expression I use with my family and my employees. I say, 'You should blanket me' or 'You should blanket her'. It's a way of showing love and caring," he said.
Jackson allowed the cameras to film baby Blanket, but his face was covered at all times.
The star's other children are daughter Paris, four, and son Prince Michael I, who is almost six. Their mother, Jackson's former dermatology nurse Debbie Rowe, plays no part in the children's life.
Jackson revealed plans to adopt a boy and a girl from each world continent.
And he denied having had any alterations to his face other than two operations on his nose to help him breathe better and to hit high notes.
"I am telling you the honest truth. I didn't do anything to my face," he said.
The documentary was due to be screened in the United States later in the week.
